The key difference between moissanite and diamond is that moissanite has a higher light refraction and appear more brilliant than diamond.
Diamonds have been a favourite precious stone to be worn for all occasions whether inlaid in silver or gold. Because of its popularity among people, there have been many attempts to replicate it or to make synthesized diamonds in labs. Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite are two substances that look almost like diamonds and have the sparkle and brilliance that make them appropriate to be used as a replacement for diamonds in jewellery. In fact, Moissanite is so close in appearance to the diamond, that for an untrained eye, it is impossible to identify a Moissanite from a diamond.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Moissanite
3. What is Diamond
4. Side by Side Comparison – Moissanite vs Diamond in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Moissanite?
In the early 20th century, Dr Henry Moissan found traces of extremely brilliant material in a small meteorite in Arizona. It was silicon carbide, a naturally occurring material, but found only in traces in the world. This was a mineral that was almost like a diamond, but the problem was that it was not found in sufficient quantities. It was painstaking research by scientists that finally produced a stimulant of diamond was in the laboratory, and this substance was called Moissanite in honour of the Nobel Prize-winning scientist, Dr Henry Moissan.
Today, it is being used as an alternative to diamonds in jewellery, providing more fire, brilliance, and lustre than real diamond at a fraction of the cost. Scientists have been able to create Moissanite in various shapes and sizes to be used as a gemstone in jewellery.
When compared to diamond, moissanite has a lower rating on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. Diamond has a rating of 10 while moissanite has a 9.25 rating. Moreover, moissanite has a higher light refraction and appear more brilliant than diamond.
What is Diamond?
Diamond, which in reality is a carbon, is the hardest known substance to mankind and is also known for its sparkle and brilliance. These attributes of diamonds have gained them a special place in the world of jewellery, and women have always been mesmerized by diamonds, no matter in which shape or form they arrive. No other gemstone can match the brilliance and shine of the diamonds. Diamonds are also very durable, and thereby are safe as a medium of investment.
Diamonds come in a variety of colours – from icy-white clear to yellow or grey shades. Moreover, diamonds are extremely rare and take years to develop and, therefore, are much more expensive than any other stone
What is the Difference Between Moissanite and Diamond?
Diamonds are naturally occurring while moissanite is mostly produced in labs. The key difference between moissanite and diamond is that moissanite has a higher light refraction and appear more brilliant than diamond. Moreover, diamonds are extremely rare and take years to develop and, therefore, are much more expensive than any other stone. Moissanite is developed easily and can be obtained at a much lower price. When compared to diamond, moissanite has a lower rating on the Mohs Scale of Hardness.
Below info-graphic tabulates more differences between moissanite and diamond.
Summary – Moissanite vs Diamond
The key difference between moissanite and diamond is that moissanite has a higher light refraction and appear more brilliant than diamond. Diamonds are extremely rare and take years to develop and, therefore, are much more expensive than any other stone. Moissanite is developed easily and can be obtained at a much lower price.
Image Courtesy:
Jo Amelia Finlay Bever (CC BY 2.0), Koshy Koshy (CC BY 2.0)
I only just found your article, and I need to correct you on a few things. The person who discovered Moissanite was Dr Henri Moissan, not Dr Henry Moissanite. The synthesis of Moissanite was not an attempt to create a synthetic Diamond. Moissanite is a naturally occurring stone that has very little presence on earth, because it is not an earthly stone. The conditions of our solar system are not right for Moissanite crystals to form, no exceptions. all natural Moissanite that is found comes from extra solar sources. The reason why Moissanite was first synthesised was as an abrasive powder, not as a gemstone. Moissanite is often found as inclusions in diamond. 99% of natural Moissanite is not large enough nor good enough quality to use as a gemstone. If you do happen to find a large enough natural Moissanite that is of gem quality, you will be paying 2 to 3 times the price for it than what you would do for a diamond of the same size and quality, this is why efforts were made to produce synthetic Moissanite of gem quality. Not as a Diamond simulant. Diamond does not have much in the way of “fire”. Diamond has a lower refractive index, roughly .2 to .3 less than Moissanite, and also has a lower dispersion, which is less than half that of Moissanite, .104 compared to the .044 of Diamond. Diamond has a hardness of between 9.5 and 10 on the Mohs scale, depending on purity. Moissanite has a hardness of 9.25 to 9.5. It is the second hardest stone in nature. When compared next to each other Diamond looks positively dull and boring, which is why I will never made Diamond jewellery. Please stop trying to compare them.